Hamburg, Oct 12: Germany beat Iceland 3-0 to win Group 5 in Euro 2005 in Euro 2004 qualifier.
A determined Germany crushed Iceland 3-0 on Saturday to book their place at the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal. Inspirational midfielder Michael Ballack, braving the pain from a sore ankle, showed the way when he curled the ball into the net with a half-volley from inside the box on nine minutes. Striker Fredi Bobic doubled Germany's lead when he volleyed home from a Kevin Kuranyi cross in the 59th minute and Kuranyi tapped the ball in from a dream pass by substitute striker Miroslav Klose to seal the victory with 11 minutes remaining. The three-time world and European champions, who needed at least a draw to win Group Five and book a trip to the finals, showed much more initiative than the visitors but survived a few scares.
Iceland found the net once in each half, through striker Eidur Gudjohnsen and defender Hermann Hreidarsson, but both efforts were disallowed, for offside and a foul respectively.


Germany, with the lion's share of the possession, should have been at least three-nil up by half-time. Michael Ballack could have put them ahead only 15 seconds after the start, but Iceland's goalkeepr Arni Gautur Arason got his leg in the way. The visitors had Arason to thank for the 1-0 scoreline after he foiled Fredi Bobic who had been sent clear with a good view of goal, and then he made a fine double save, including a close-range backheel from Kevin Kurnanyi.


Scotland's simultaneous 1-0 win over Lithuania in Glasgow gave them second place in the group for a playoff berth and meant Iceland, who dropped a spot to third, did not qualify.


GROUP 5 FINAL TABLE P W D L F A Pts Germany 8 5 3 0 13 4 18 Scotland 8 4 2 2 12 8 14 Iceland 8 4 1 3 11 9 13 Lithuania 8 3 1 4 7 11 10 Faroe Islands 8 0 1 7 7 18 1


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